5 EV and PHEVs to watch

HYUNDAI IONIQ 5

Price: from $49,835

Hyundai and sister firm Kia are both building some of the most exciting electrified models to arrive into showrooms and this Ioniq 5 is the perfect example. Stunning, futuristic looks, up to a 298-mile range and incredible performance (how does 0 to 60mph in 5.2 seconds grab you?). The Ioniq 5 may not be one of the most involving cars to drive, but we think it could easily be a contender for the best design in the World Car of the Year awards.

PEUGEOT 308 HYBRID

Price: from $44,453

Driver choice is everything when it comes to buying a new car. An incredible 70 per cent of new Peugeot 308s that leave showrooms are sold as company cars and this latest version is better than ever. As well as traditional petrol and diesel engines, there are two plug-in hybrid models available with a fully-electric version coming in 2023. So the same car will be available as a family hatchback or estate and with four different power sources.

VOLVO XC60 RECHARGE PLUG-IN HYBRID

Price: from $71,511

The XC60 has been Volvo’s best-selling model globally since 2009 and this refreshed model is no less desirable. Three plugin hybrid models are on offer starting with the 340bhp T6 offering emissions as low as 55g/ km and an all-electric range of up to 32g/km. This year (2022) the XC60 will also get a larger and more efficient battery pack, improving those performance numbers still further.

AUDI Q4 E-TRON

Price: $53,949

The all-electric Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback are on the same platform as VW’s ID4 and the Skoda Enyaq. That means there’s a choice of two batteries – 52kwh or 77kWh – and three power levels along with two or four-wheel drive. The Audi Q4 e-tron goes as far as 317 miles (Q4 e-tron Sportback, 323 miles), while it also has intelligent regenerative braking that cleverly automatically uses its knowledge of the road ahead for ultimate driving efficiency.

KIA KV6

Price: from $55,180

While under the skin the gorgeous new Kia KV6 may share some of its underpinnings with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, that’s where the similarities end. The KV6 is only available with a 77kWh battery pack, giving it a range of up to 316 miles, but there are two and four-wheel drive models and a more powerful version is on its way, too. We also can’t help thinking there’s more than a hint of Aston Martin DBX about the rear-end styling and what’s not to like about that?